With 65% of the global memory chip market, South Korea's minister is anxious: China is the biggest concern
As the release of Kimi K3 large model brings China's AI back into the global spotlight, so too does the growing unease among competitors — following the United States, the South Korean government has now voiced concerns about China's AI development.
On Thursday, South Korea’s Minister of Industry, Trade, and Energy Kim Jeong-wan stated that the AI industry is evolving at a breakneck pace, with major players racing to accumulate resources and capital. South Korea cannot afford to fall behind. Without increased support and investment, the country risks losing its current leading position — even being pushed out of the race entirely.
Kim emphasized that AI is advancing too quickly; even a slight delay is unacceptable. Moreover, semiconductor customers exhibit extremely high brand loyalty — once accustomed to a particular supplier’s products, they rarely switch providers in the future.
Therefore, what South Korea must do right now is to aggressively seize market share at all costs. Only by accumulating a sufficient user base can it secure a foothold in this global AI competition. Currently, South Korea holds approximately 65% of the global memory chip market — nearly two-thirds.
Yet Minister Kim remains deeply unsettled. He pointed out that while South Korea currently enjoys an advantage, it must remain vigilant against China overtaking it, given the astonishing speed at which China’s AI is developing. He admitted his greatest worry is China.
As for how to proceed, Kim stated that AI companies must not merely focus on dividing the pie — hoarding all profits will only lead to slow self-destruction. As everyone knows, sustainable growth comes from letting the golden goose keep laying golden eggs. If you kill the goose for short-term gains, there will be nothing left to profit from later.
Kim explained that South Korea’s AI giants should reinvest their profits into research and development to continuously strengthen their competitiveness. At the same time, the government must increase its support — just as China has done by channeling massive national resources into the AI sector — if South Korea hopes to emerge victorious.
It sounds easy, but South Korea’s AI powerhouses are backed by American capital. Even the president’s words may carry little weight when it comes to these influential firms.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872764420085834/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.